Marsha Waggoner
Encyclopedia
Marsha Waggoner is an American
professional poker
player who lives in Los Angeles, California
.
Waggoner has finished in the money at 20 World Series of Poker
(WSOP) events as of 2010. Her highest WSOP finish was 2nd place in the 23rd Annual WSOP
tournament in Limit 7 Card Stud
Hi/Lo
, for which she won $52,500.
, Waggoner discovered a talent for stud poker
, and in 1977, moved to Reno
, Nevada
to pursue poker professionally.
Most of her experience up until this point was in cash games, however her interest in tournament games was piqued when Amarillo Slim
brought the Second Annual Poker Classic to Reno in 1980.
Waggoner stayed in Reno until the mid 1980s, at which point she moved to Las Vegas
, quickly demonstrating her ability at tournament Texas Hold 'em
and Seven-Card Stud
events.
In 1987, Waggoner moved to California while continuing to play professionally. It was around this time that Waggoner began to establish herself as “a solid and patient tournament player whose results continually proved she belonged in the game's upper echelons”.
In 2008, she was one of four inaugural inductees into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame at Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel
in Las Vegas
.
In 2010, she was inducted into the Australian Poker Hall of Fame.
In 2005, Waggoner was invited to play in the World Poker Tour
’s third annual Legends of Poker Ladies Night tournament at the Bicycle Casino
, and finished third in one event of the 2006 Ultimate Poker Challenge
.
As of 2010, her total live tournament winnings exceed $US830,000.
, whom she met at the Hollywood Park Casino in 1997. She has three children from a previous marriage and five grandchildren, and enjoys playing golf and dancing.
Although she has lived in America for more than 30 years, Waggoner still visits her home country regularly to compete in poker tournaments (such as the Aussie Millions
) and see her extended family.
Waggoner's brother is noted former Australian photojournalist, Jim Fenwick
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
player who lives in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Waggoner has finished in the money at 20 World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
(WSOP) events as of 2010. Her highest WSOP finish was 2nd place in the 23rd Annual WSOP
1992 World Series of Poker
The 1992 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe. Among notable participants was actor Telly Savalas of Kojak fame.-Preliminary events:-Main Event:...
tournament in Limit 7 Card Stud
Seven-card stud
Seven-card stud is a variant of stud poker. Until the recent increase in popularity of Texas hold 'em, seven-card stud was the most popular poker variant in home games across the United States, and in casinos in the eastern part of the country. Two to eight players is common, though eight may...
Hi/Lo
High-low split
In traditional poker games, the player with the best traditional hand wins the whole pot. Lowball variations award the pot to the lowest hand, by any of several methods...
, for which she won $52,500.
Background
In 1976, as a casino dealer in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Waggoner discovered a talent for stud poker
Stud poker
Stud poker is any of a number of poker variants in which each player receives a mix of face-down and face-up cards dealt in multiple betting rounds. Stud games are also typically non-positional games, meaning that the player who bets first on each round may change from round to round...
, and in 1977, moved to Reno
Reno
Reno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
to pursue poker professionally.
Most of her experience up until this point was in cash games, however her interest in tournament games was piqued when Amarillo Slim
Amarillo Slim
Thomas Austin Preston, Jr. , known as Amarillo Slim, is an American professional gambler known for his poker skills and proposition bets...
brought the Second Annual Poker Classic to Reno in 1980.
Waggoner stayed in Reno until the mid 1980s, at which point she moved to Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
, quickly demonstrating her ability at tournament Texas Hold 'em
Texas hold 'em
Texas Hold 'em is a variation of the standard card game of poker. The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player and then five community cards being placed face-up by the dealer—a series of three then two additional single cards , with...
and Seven-Card Stud
Seven-card stud
Seven-card stud is a variant of stud poker. Until the recent increase in popularity of Texas hold 'em, seven-card stud was the most popular poker variant in home games across the United States, and in casinos in the eastern part of the country. Two to eight players is common, though eight may...
events.
In 1987, Waggoner moved to California while continuing to play professionally. It was around this time that Waggoner began to establish herself as “a solid and patient tournament player whose results continually proved she belonged in the game's upper echelons”.
In 2008, she was one of four inaugural inductees into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame at Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel
Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel
Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel is a hotel and casino located in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada on the Fremont Street Experience. The casino is named for its founder, Benny Binion and has 366 rooms, two restaurants and a rooftop pool...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
In 2010, she was inducted into the Australian Poker Hall of Fame.
Results
Waggoner’s best tournament placing was winning the 2003 National Championship of Poker, playing in the Limit 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo event, a low limit buy in at Hollywood Park Casino.In 2005, Waggoner was invited to play in the World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting the final table of each tournament. It was started in the United States by attorney/television producer Steven Lipscomb, who served as CEO of WPT Enterprises , the firm that...
’s third annual Legends of Poker Ladies Night tournament at the Bicycle Casino
Bicycle Casino
The Bicycle Casino is the world's second largest poker cardroom.Founded by George Hardie Sr. in 1984, located in Bell Gardens, California, the Bicycle Casino offers a wide variety of poker games and limits, as well as pai gow poker, panguingue and California blackjack.Financing to build the casino...
, and finished third in one event of the 2006 Ultimate Poker Challenge
Ultimate Poker Challenge
The Ultimate Poker Challenge was a series of weekly poker tournaments acting as super-satellites into the series semi-finals.The first and second seasons are available on NTSC DVD...
.
As of 2010, her total live tournament winnings exceed $US830,000.
Personal life
Waggoner is currently single; in 2008 she separated from fellow poker professional Kenna JamesKenna James
Kenna James is an American professional poker player, television commentator and consultant who currently resides in Costa Mesa, California....
, whom she met at the Hollywood Park Casino in 1997. She has three children from a previous marriage and five grandchildren, and enjoys playing golf and dancing.
Although she has lived in America for more than 30 years, Waggoner still visits her home country regularly to compete in poker tournaments (such as the Aussie Millions
Crown Australian Poker Championship
The Australian Poker Championship, commonly known as Aussie Millions, is a series of poker tournaments held at the Crown Casino, in Melbourne, Australia...
) and see her extended family.
Waggoner's brother is noted former Australian photojournalist, Jim Fenwick
Jim Fenwick
Jim Fenwick is a former Australian photojournalist most well known for being a Walkley Award recipient and former chief photographer for The Courier Mail.-Photographic career:...
.